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It's difficult because Mormon kids can be kind and nice to your kid until your kid refuses to convert or go to church with them and then they drop your kid like a hot potato. It's worse for girls than boys. This of course is a sweeping generalization and not true of all Mormon, non-Mormon interactions.

Salt Lake is now less than 50% Mormon but sounds like you will be in an outlying area. One of the things that was said to me was "Consider private school as a the hidden tax of living in Utah." Catholic schools provide some diversity with lots of Latino kids.

I'm happy to answer any other questions I can!

@ustechie: There are some amazing Catholic Schools though and they are not that expensive. I live in a very progressive part of SLC. We love our neighborhood. If you live in Sandy, the Waterford School is also an option, but it is very expensive.

Sandy, Cottonwood Heights, Millcreek should all be fine. Draper is going to be very LDS as are West Jordan, Taylorsville and those types of places. If you are game for a ton of diversity, you could live on the West Side. I lived in Rose Park for a while and everyone seemed to think that I lived in a not so nice area, but I found it to be very nice.

I agree with @Mrs. Jacks: on neighborhoods. I would avoid anywhere in Utah county even if your DH is working there. But you can find pockets that are pretty diverse, and fun. I LOVE my neighborhood, and even though I live within a 10-minute walk from church HQ, haven't really found there to be a huge Mormon influence. I can't comment very well on making friends, as I'm kind of a hermit. It's something I'm working on, ha.

I also grew up in Utah (though in a town not known for having a huge mormon population). I didn't have issues with any of my mormon friends re: church growing up, but did find by the time we reached high school we had drifted apart, mostly because they all went to the same religious camps and things. It really wasn't a big deal.

I love in draper, it is pretty Mormon but my neighborhood is prob half Mormon/half not. And I know it's not true for all Mormons but I had a million non Mormon friends and couldn't care a all about religion. I even dated mostly non Mormon boys if that makes a difference. Also there is a really cool catholic school in draper Juan Diego. Anyways if you move to draper, move to Akagi farms and I'll bring cookies!

And I won't try and convert you!

@Mrs. Jacks: I'm all for diversity but would you agree that some of the cities on the west side are a little scary? Referring to all the crime.

@anonysquire: Maybe to a Utahn, but I've lived in East Oakland, San Francisco, LA, Manhattan (lower east side/close to alphabet city), and in big cities around the world. So I do not find the west side the least bit scary.

When I first moved here as a student, I loved my neighborhood and my neighbors and couldn't understand why people had such a horrible reaction each time I told them where I lived. I lived near a little carniceria and there were lots of young Latin families. You had to be sensible about not leaving your bike unlocked or skis on the front porch. Other than that, I'd hear a car pass by with loud music once in awhile.

Still I fully understand that most families moving here may not be looking for the same experience that I was seeking as a student, which is why I have made the location recommendations that I did.

Downtown area also offers a fairly diverse experience... Which is basically where we live now. I wanted my multiracial daughter to grow up in an area where kids look like her, and sure enough... Our neighbors two doors down are a mixed race couple with two biracial kids and our best friends (former across the street neighbors) are a gay couple with two biracial kids. We also picked a very diverse school for preschool, and are looking at a very diverse school for grade school. Our girls are districted to West for high school, and that's where we plan to send them.

@ustechie: I'd go with the group at the University. Howard Sharp and Jen Van Horn are two of the best.

@anonysquire: I just looked up cedar hills and it's south and east of Riverton, sort of east of American Fork.

OP- you might want to consider the Riverton area as we'll. it would significantly cut the commute.

My partner and I just looked up some stats out of curiosity. Riverton and draper are 85% Mormon. You get into Sandy and some of the other places mentioned above and you are down to 60%.

Please look up and listen to the radio west podcast about Mormons and non-Mormons co-existing here. It gives a rosier outlook than is actually happening, but it was nice work and got a lot of people talking. http://m.radiowest.kuer.org/?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F#mobile/719

@ustechie: I think the University group has locations in Murray. Keep in mind that you are going to need what insurance you guys are going to have before you choose an OB because Regence has Intermountain as out of network and Intermountain has University facilities as out of network and we're pretty much a two shop town.

@anonysquire: IMC is in Murray. It's just important to know whether you are select health (Intermountain) or Regence before you choose because you don't want to go out of network.

@ustechie: ya alpine and highland area are super nice. And of course I won't say anything bad about draper. And I don't know if this makes a difference but my husband didnt grow up Mormon and lived in LA/Arizona/Georgia his whole life and moved here before he was Mormon and loved it. And anytime we invite our non mormon friends or family to stay with us they love it! So hopefully you will too

@ustechie: Hi! I came across your original post after searching similar situation on Google. My husband is considering a job offer that would bring us to the Sandy area (we are from suburban Philadelphia). We are catholic and have 2 young children and I am searching for any advice on finding a great diverse neighborhood. My main concern is for my children- I don't want them to feel left out especially since we would be leaving all of our family and friends back east. Thanks in advance for (hopefully) seeing and reading this. :).

@philamom: Hi, we've lived in SLC for 3 years and love it! We live in Draper and our kids go to public school in Sandy. My daughter went to the catholic school in Draper for 2 years and we liked the school, but we aren't catholic and we heard great things about our local school so we switched back to public. I've heard good things about the catholic school in Sandy, as well. The real estate market is pretty competitive here. I'm sure there are other Bees who have lived here longer who can give more info on actual neighborhoods. I will say that I moved here not really excited about living in SLC, especially after researching online, but now we love it and would really hate to leave.

@philamom @USTECHIE @JMOM
Sorry this is my first post but I came across this blog because we are moving to SLC. I hope some of you all see this because I know it's an old thread. What have you guys found out as far as neighborhoods go and the whole mormon conversation? My kids will be in elementary and middle school so schools is important. I have looked a Suncrest but have some nerves there, I have looked at Daybreak but it seems far, and I have mormon family in Utah country but up near Alpine and Highland the schools look awesome and the houses seem like you get a lot of bang for your buck. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

@JMOM: Thanks so much for responding! No, we are not set on any location. Schools are our #1 priority. My husband and I both work from home however, he is looking at working from a co-working space closer into SLC. We are looking mainly at the Sandy and Draper area. My family that is LDS lives in Utah County but I know the mormon population goes way up there. If you don't mind me asking, what grade is your daughter? (Big difference if she is in K or 5th). I really appreciate any help you can give me.